In 2006 Pickard Finlason Partnership carried out a speculative Scheme Design for the conversion of the under-utilised lower ground floor to the Grade II listed Holy Trinity church in Anfield. The scheme included the removal of a raised mound of earth that surrounded the church and creation of a large Community Centre, whilst allowing the church to share and operate a separate entrance to benefit of local people and interest groups.

This vision propagated by the PCC and the Architects gained the much needed support from Anfield and Breckside Community Council (ABCC) who were looking to establish a facility in the locality. The team lobbied Liverpool City Council for grant funding from Liverpool Neighbourhood Regeneration Programme Priority 4. ABCC planned to relocate part of their offices into the Centre to incorporate other uses into the facility, thereby contributing to the long term sustainability of the project.

Funding was sanctioned in autumn 2007 with the condition that the works needed to be completed within twelve months. Pickard Finlason Partnership and, Liverpool 2020 (agents for Liverpool City Council) organised a fast-track procurement route to select a construction partner and a process of Two-Stage tender and negotiation was implemented. McGoff and Byrne were selected as the preferred partner following a two month period of negotiation and detailed design development.

High emphasis was placed upon early collaboration and stakeholder engagement, to ensure the tight delivery timetable was adhered to. Regular team meetings were held with a complex mix of stakeholders including the building users ABCC, the representatives of the Church, The Liverpool Diocese, Liverpool City Council in all its guises (Planning, Conservation, Funding and local Councillors), English Heritage and the full design and construction team.

Investigations and detailed design began immediately and a shared perspective was developed which added value to the whole procurement process. Many challenges were faced and unforeseen matters overcome by the design and construction team, including the need to underpin elements of the historic building, complex basement construction within a confined space, through to painstaking restoration of original features.

The grade II listed church also remained operational thoughout the works, which involved meticulous planning to safeguard the public and mitigate disruption.

An extensive community involvement process began with McGoff and Byrne facilitating consultation meetings within the community and distribution of a monthly news letter communicating the impact of the works as it progressed. The project was successfully completed on time and within budget, culminating with the facility opening to the public in April 2009.